The Mission of the U Bar U Retreat and Conference Center Is To
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Brenda Gaye Webb Treasurer, Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference [email protected] 713-703-3768 Date: May 25, 2015 To: UUA Board of Trustees From: Brenda Gaye Webb, Treasurer and Chair of Endowment Committee Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference (SWUUC), a District of the UUA Subject: Request to Transfer SWUUC Endowment Funds At its Annual Meeting on April 18, 2015, the congregational delegates of the SWUUC voted to liquidate the funds of SWUUC Endowment Fund and to donate the entire balance - approximately $140,000 - to the Unitarian Universalist Friends Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization which owns the U Bar U Retreat and Conference Center located in Kerrville, Texas, to be used for capital improvements of the Center. As treasurer of the SWUUC, I request that the UUA Board support the wishes of the congregations, as required by UUA policies. I understand that Tim Brennan, Harlan Limpert, Scott Tayler, and Kenn Hurto all support this request as it is consistent with the verbal understandings that have taken place in the last year related to the dissolution of the SWUUC and other districts of the Southern Region. Information about the history, events, accommodations and their capital campaign can be found on their website, www.ubaru.org . Here is a brief summary of their mission and philosophy which illustrate their commitment to UU principles and values. The mission of the U Bar U Re treat and Conference Center is to provide a welcoming, peaceful place to gather for spiritual, educational, and recreational purposes in harmony with Unitarian Universalist Principles and The Land. The board and staff accomplish this mission in a variety of ways: • Through programs that UBarU offers directly • By hosting programs offered by others • By renting the facility or part of the facility to groups who wish to come for a few days or longer • By renting parts of the facility to individuals or families • Through the administration of a wildlife management program that we review and renew annually • Through the selection of “green” construction wherever possible Throughout its existence, the Foundation Board has had a focus on nurturing relationships with UU congregations throughout the Southwestern UU Conference. While the congregations in Texas tend to have closer relationships since they are nearer to UBarU, the Center has worked with professional and lay leaders in congregations from all of the SWUUC states. The goal is for UBarU programming to support the teachings and work of the congregations. The directors of the summer camps are all either religious professionals or recognized expert lay leaders. One of the goals for the summer camps is that every child or youth participant returns to home congregation a better UU. The Center has significant ministerial involvement in all of their headline programs, including the summer camps and the men’s and women’s retreats. This commitment to remain in good relationship with the congregations extends beyond the content of the programming at UBarU. The Center works to assure that adults and youth who serve in leadership positions on UBarU programs are doing so while remaining in a good relationship with their home congregations. The Center relies upon recognized lay and professional UU leaders to develop and oversee much of the programming. Safety policies for children and youth require the program leaders to engage the pastoral care teams at the child’s home congregation whenever ongoing care is needed after the program at UBarU concludes. Ministers and DREs serve as staff (often volunteer) at camps and other events. I express my gratitude to the UUA Board for your consideration of this request. Please let me know the board’s decision; I will, in turn, notify the UU Friends Foundation. Blessings, (electronically signed) Brenda Gaye Webb .